Summary: This is the 12th Sermon in the Series "Be Genuine". This is the 1st sermon from 2 John.

Series: Be Genuine [#12]

FINDING REAL JOY

2 John 1:1-13

Introduction:

In a world of pain, misery, corruption, etc…; how does a Christian find joy in their Christian walk? 2 John helps us answer this question.

2 John 1:1-3

This letter, which is addressed to the “chosen lady and her children”, is thought by some to be the cover letter to 1 John and is not to a specific woman, but to a congregation. Others say it is to a specific lady. Either way you want to look at this, it doesn’t matter because it does not change the meaning of this short Book of the Bible.

If you want real joy, you are going to have to…

1. Walk.

Now I realize that this is incomplete; but the next verses in our text tell us how to walk.

2 John 1:4-6

* Walk in the truth.

* Walk in obedience to God’s commands.

* Walk in love.

2 John 1:7-13

If you want real joy, you are going to have to…

2. Watch.

What are we watching for? The devil strategically places his “spies” within each congregation. How do you know a person is not a true believer? They do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior of the world. They try to discredit Jesus Christ. The text tells us that we are not to allow them to destroy us through their false teachings. If we allow them to do this, then we are a part of what they are doing. In our society today, we need to take notice of verse 11 and realize that silence and apathy are ways of going along. John ends this letter by telling us in verse 12 that his joy will be made complete in seeing them face to face. As believers we ought to find joy in spending time together.